“Whether I’m working with the person in charge at the very top or I’m working with a person who just started working there, the personalized attention is excellent.” Those are the words of Lee Walton, Dealer Principal and Vice President of Bob Allen Ford. When shopping around for a bank, it was important to Lee to work with someone who would always pick up the phone when he called. That is the kind of service Lee has received over his last 15 years of working with Cornerstone Bank. Read on to learn more about his experience.

Introduce yourself and how you are associated with Cornerstone Bank.

“I’m Lee Walton. I work with Bob Allen Ford, and I was introduced to Michelle Guthrie about 15 years ago, mutually, through our Ford dealership.”

How has Cornerstone earned your trust over the years of working with them? Was it important to you to work with a bank that was rooted in Kansas City? 

“Cornerstone Bank has earned my trust through the personalized relationships and the products they offer, and the simplicity of the business-to-business relationships. So when I sought out a business relationship with a bank, personally, I wanted to work with a localized bank and a smaller infrastructure. A more personalized relationship–that was very important to me. And, someone who was rooted in the community: in Kansas City, in Overland Park.”

Why would you recommend Cornerstone Bank to a friend or colleague? 

“I feel the simplistics of the personalized, small relationship is important. Generally, ‘people sell people’ in my industry, and I wanted to work with someone mutually that I had a business relationship with and that could take care of me as a client for them. Recently, I had a real estate project that wasn’t super large, but I had shopped it at some of the larger banks, and they didn’t have a lot of interest. I brought it to Michelle and John, and they jumped on it for the opportunity to work with me, and we were able to get that loan closed in under 60 days, which was really great for us to buy another Ford dealership.”

How would you describe Cornerstone Bank as it pertains to your business?

“So generally, my relationship with Cornerstone is really about the people and the values that you work with on a day-to-day basis. That’s something that’s important when you’re dealing with your personal finances or your business finances.

I love it because I can pick up the phone and call somebody and get the information that I need. Whether I’m working with the person in charge at the very top or I’m working with a person who just started working there, the personalized attention is excellent. They care about their clients, they care about their employees, and ultimately, that’s what business is all about–mutually working together for the greater good of the bank and for the shareholders and the community partners.”